Lesson 9Lesson 9Christ-LikenessChrist-Likeness

The right PathThe right PathThe right ProcessThe right ProcessThe right PersonThe right Person

Sanctification is the process God Sanctification is the process God uses to produce Christ-likeness in uses to produce Christ-likeness in the daily life of a person who has the daily life of a person who has been transformed by the power of been transformed by the power of God.God.

Sanctification is not accomplished Sanctification is not accomplished in a set period of time, but in a in a set period of time, but in a lifetime. lifetime. The method God uses to The method God uses to accomplish this is reading, accomplish this is reading, studying, memorizing, and studying, memorizing, and meditating upon His Word, the meditating upon His Word, the Bible.Bible.

Process of Sanctification

Looking at addictions the way God Looking at addictions the way God looks at them is essential in freeing looks at them is essential in freeing the addict from the bondage that the addict from the bondage that holds them firmly in its grip.holds them firmly in its grip.

God’s way of dealing with sin in our God’s way of dealing with sin in our life is for us to repent of our sin and life is for us to repent of our sin and confess our sin to Him.confess our sin to Him.

We also acknowledge that this We also acknowledge that this repentance is the only way we can repentance is the only way we can have a right relationship with God. have a right relationship with God. This humility brings God’s grace to This humility brings God’s grace to our life.our life. “Grace” is God’s unmerited “Grace” is God’s unmerited favor.favor.

Once the addict’s mind has been Once the addict’s mind has been changed, and he is convinced that changed, and he is convinced that the path he is currently on is the the path he is currently on is the wrong path, he must go in a wrong path, he must go in a different direction. different direction. This does not This does not mean that there is never a failure mean that there is never a failure or a mistake made.or a mistake made.

The addict will either flip a coin The addict will either flip a coin every day, leaving it to chance every day, leaving it to chance whether or not he will live life free whether or not he will live life free from life-controlling habits, or he from life-controlling habits, or he will decide to spend time in God’s will decide to spend time in God’s Word and in prayer each day, Word and in prayer each day, gaining the strength to live free gaining the strength to live free from bondage.from bondage.

If the addict will live according to If the addict will live according to the Word of God, “recovery” will the Word of God, “recovery” will take care of itself.take care of itself.

Sanctification is the process of being Sanctification is the process of being made Holy that God uses in our life made Holy that God uses in our life to bring us closer to Him and to help to bring us closer to Him and to help us “walk in the Spirit”. us “walk in the Spirit”. It takes time It takes time for the addict to reach a place where for the addict to reach a place where they are strong enough to resist the they are strong enough to resist the things that have controlled just things that have controlled just about every aspect of their life for about every aspect of their life for such a long period of time.such a long period of time.

Christians who are strong in the Christians who are strong in the faith also have the same battles faith also have the same battles everyone else has. everyone else has. The difference is The difference is in allowing the Holy Spirit of God to in allowing the Holy Spirit of God to have complete control of one’s have complete control of one’s thoughts, desires, and actions.thoughts, desires, and actions.

The right process is found in The right process is found in following the right person, Jesus following the right person, Jesus Christ. Christ. When we study the Word of When we study the Word of God and memorize verses of God and memorize verses of Scripture, we find they enable a Scripture, we find they enable a process of cleansing that has never process of cleansing that has never been experienced before by the been experienced before by the addict.addict.